Curtain fixture



March 14, 19.39. J. H. BOYE CURTAIN FIXTURE Filed Nov. 9, 1938 Patented Mar. 14, 1939 CURTAIN FIXTURE James H. Boye, Chicago, 111., assignor to James H. Boye Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 9, 1938, Serial No. 239,615

14 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of curtain fixtures, and has reference more particularly to fixtures employing one or more telescopic extensible fiat rods of the bow ed type.

Both bowed and straight rods are commonly formed with straight inwardly extending end portions or arms disposed substantially normal or perpendicular to the plane of the Window wardly directed end portions cant toward each other. If it be shortened, the bowed intermediate portion retreats toward the plane of the window frame, and the end portions cant away from each other. These canted positions are unsightly, and one object of this invention has been to produce an extensible bowed rod with end portions so formed as to avoid this objection when the rod is lengthened or shortened relatively to an intermediate length.

Again, in the case of double rod fixtures employing a front rod for the suspension of over drapes and a rear rod parallel with the front rod for the suspension of the curtain or shade, either the end arms of the front rod have been made longer than the end arms of the rear rod, or

the supporting brackets have been made with arm-engaging members projecting forwardly different distances from the bracket base, or, in other Words, of different lengths. Since manufacturing economy is best served by making the telescoping sections of both rods identical so that they may be interchangeably used, the more usual practice is to provide the brackets with arm-engaging members of different lengths. An example of this, as embodied in straight telescoping rods, is presented in my former patent above identified. Another object of the present invention has been to provide a double rod curtain fixture having bowed rods wherein the: bracketengaging end portions of the sections of both rods may be identical, and wherein also the bracket portions that respectively engage the rod end portions may be identical, thus conducing to manufacturing economy,

When a bowed. or straight, is extended nearly to. its limit its intermediate portion sags, and this, of course, is unsightly. Another object of this invention has been to provide an improved bracket which, by edgewise: adjustment of one end thereof, will laterally cant the rod arm supported thereby and thus raise the sagging portion of the rod to true horizontal position.

Again, some users of bowed rod curtain fixtures prefer to mount the rod in an arched position, which can be done by tilting the rod upwardly or downwardly. Another object of the present invention has been to provide a simple and easily manipulated means by which the bowed rod may be mounted either horizontal or in an arched position and securely locked in either position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an extensible bowed curtain rod and its supporting brackets.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a double rod fixture having extensible bowed rods.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a double bracket employed with a double rod structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation, showing the double bracket of Fig. 4 with the inner or rear rod mounted thereon, and showing a sagging position of the rod.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing an adjustment of one limb of the bracket to raise the rod to horizontal position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of an end portion of one of the rods, showing a reinforced shank in and projecting from the end portion of the rod with a pivotally mounted hinge sleeve thereon for engagement with a hinge pin on the bracket, and also showing a means for adjusting the rod between horizontal and arched positions.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the reinforced shank and bracket engaging member appearing in front elevation in Fig. 7.

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views on the lines 99 and l0lll respectively of Fig. '1.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View on the line H-II of Fig.2.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, ll and I2 designate the two telescoping sections of a bowed fiat curtain rod, which has the cross-sectional form shown in Fig. 11, this form of reinforced flat rod being old and common. The outer ends of the two sections are supported on brackets attached to the sides of the window casing. Each bracket comprises a base plate l3 apertured at its upper end to receive a fastening screw 14. Mounted on the front of the base plate [3 is a normally vertical hinge pin l5, and in the lower end of the base plate is a transverse arcuate slot I6 through which passes a clamp screw l1.

Tightly fitted in the outer end portion of each rod section is a shank l8 consisting of a flat strip reinforced by having its longitudinal edges r This shank, as best shown in Fig. '7, projects a.

slight distance beyond the end of the rod, and on the projecting portion is mounted, by ahorizontal pivot stud 20, the stem 2! of an upright hinge sleeve 22. The stem 2| is formed with a transverse arcuate slot 23 through which passes a clamp screw 24 screw threaded into the shank extension. The rod is mounted on the brackets by simply passing the hinge sleeves 22 over the hinge pins l5.

As before stated, when the two sections of the rod are extended to approximately their limit, the rod sags, as illustrated'in Fig. 5. This is corrected and the rod raised to true horizontal position by simply loosening the clamp screws 11, shifting the lower portion of the base plates edge- Wise to the position shown in Fig. 6, and tightening the clamp screws.

The rod is usually mounted horizontal, but if it is desired to mount it in arched form, this may be very simply accomplished by loosening the clamp screws 24, tilting the rod upwardly, and then re-tightening the clamp screws.

In the case of a double rod structure, such as is illustrated in Fig. 3, the structure of the front and rear rods is the same as that above described.

Double brackets are, however, employed for mounting the two rods. As best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the double bracket employs twin limbs 25 and 26 each structurally similar to the base plate l3 of the single rod fixture, said limbs having mounted thereon vertical hinge pins 21 and 28 respectively. The two limbs are pivotally suspended at their upper ends, as shown at 29 and 36, from a cross bar 3! that is centrally apertured at 32 to receive a fastening screw 33 driven into the window frame. The two limbs 25 and 25 may be independently adjusted edgewise in the same Way and by the same means as the base plate l3 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This provides a means for independently adjusting both rods to eliminate sagging.

Coming now to an important feature of the present invention, by reference to Figs. 2 and 3,

it will be observed that the outer end portions or arms of the rods are curved inwardly or rearwardly on a more abrupt or pronounced curve than the intermediate portions of the rods; and it will also be observed that the hinge pins of the two limbs of the double bracket'are disposed at the same distance from the base of the bracket. This construction avoids the necessity of either making the arms of the rods of unequal lengths or extending the rod supports at unequal distances forwardly of the bracket bases. In other words, it not only avoids the unsightly appearance created by canted straight arms when the rods are fitted to windows of different widths, but it affords a sightly and pleasing appearance and it also creates a pronounced manufacturing economy in that the four rod sections of a double rod fixture may be duplicates, while the double bracket may consist of two single brackets merely connected by the cross bar 3| and the pivot pins or rivets 29 and 30.

The described structure also permits the independent arching of the two rods of a double rod fixture, making it possible to arch the front rod and leave the rear rod horizontal, or vice versa.

'Again, when adjusting a double rod fixture to windows of varying widths, the relative positional relations of the two rods remain substantially constant, and the hinging of the ends of the rods on the bracket pins permits the necessary slight turning movement of the hinge sleeves on the pins when adjusting the rods to a window of greater or less width. It will thus be seen that the described structure possesses a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to horizontal and arched positions and different window widths, while preserving its sightly and pleasing appearance.

Obviously, the structural details shown and described may be varied without sacrificing any of the described advantages. Hence, I do not limit the invention to the particular embodiment presented for purposes of illustration, but reserve all such variations, modifications and mechanical equivalents as fall within the spirit and purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a curtain fixture, the combination with an extensible bowed curtain rod comprising telescoping sections, each section having a rearwardly extended end portion carrying a vertical hinge member, of upright rod supporting brackets each carrying a vertical hinge member cooperating with said first named hinge member, and means for adjusting one end of each of said brackets edgewise to correct sagging of the intermediate portion of said rod.

2. In a curtain fixture, the combination with an extensible bowed curtain rod comprising telescoping sections, each section having a rearwardly extended end portion carrying a vertical hinge sleeve, of upright rod supporting brackets each carrying a vertical hinge pin cooperating with said hinge sleeve, and means for adjusting one end of each of said brackets edgewise to cant said end portions laterally and thereby correct sagging of the intermediate portion of said rod.

3. In a curtain fixture, the combination with an extensible bowed curtain rod comprising telescoping sections, each section having a rearwardly extended end portion carrying a vertical hinge member, of upright bracket plates pivotally supported at their upper ends and each carrying a vertical hinge member cooperating with said first named hinge member, and means for adjusting the lower end of each of said bracket plates edgewise to correct sagging of the intermediate portion of said rod.

4. In a curtain fixture, the combination with an extensible bowed curtain rod comprising telescoping sections, each section having a rearwardly extended end portion carrying a vertical hinge sleeve, of upright bracket plates pivotally supported at their upper ends and each carrying a vertical hinge pin cooperating with said hinge sleeve, and means for adjusting the lower end of each of said bracket plates edgewise to cant its hinge pin out of vertical comprising an arcuate slot in the lower portion of the bracket plate, and a clamp screw extending through said slot.

5. In a multiple rod curtain fixture of the character described, the combination with front and rear substantially parallel bowed curtain rods each comprising telescoping sections, and each section of each rod having a curved rearwardly extended end portion the curvature of which is continuous with but greater than that of the intermediate portion of the rod, of vertical hinge members on the free ends of said end portions, and rod supporting brackets each having a pair of laterally spaced vertical hinge members cooperating with said first named hinge members and both located in a vertical plane parallel with the plane of the window frame.

6. In a multiple rod curtain fixture of the character described, the combination with front and rear substantially parallel bowed curtain rods each comprising telescoping sections, and each section of each rod having a curved rearwardly extended end portion the curvature of which is continuous with but greater than that of the intermediate portion of the rod, of vertical hinge sleeves on the free ends of said end portions, and rod supporting brackets each comprising a base and a pair of vertical laterally spaced hinge pins cooperating with said hinge sleeves and both located at equal distances in front of said base.

7. A supporting bracket for front and rear extensible curtain rods, comprising a base member formed with laterally spaced pivotally supported parts connected together and independently adjustable edgewise, upright rodengaging members respectively mounted on said parts, and means associated with the respective parts for independently securing the same in any edgewise adjusted position.

8. A supporting bracket for front and rear extensible curtain rods, comprising a base member formed with laterally spaced pivotally suspended plates connected together and independently adjustable edgewise, upright rodengaging pins respectively mounted on said plates, and means associated with the respective plates for independently securing the same in any edgewise adjusted position.

9. A supporting bracket for front and rear extensible curtain rods, comprising a base member consisting of a horizontal cross bar centrally apertured to receive a fastening screw and a pair of laterally spaced plates pivotally suspended from the ends of said cross bar, upright rodengaging members respectively mounted on said plates, and means respectively associated with the lower ends of said plates for independently securing the same in any edgewise adjusted position.

10. In a curtain fixture of the character described, the combination With a bowed curtain rod, and supporting brackets for the ends of said rod, of means, including a horizontal pivot, for connecting each end of said rod to its bracket whereby said rod may be tilted upwardly or downwardly, and means for locking said rod in tilted position.

11. In a curtain fixture of the character described, the combination with a bowed flat curtain rod, and supporting brackets for the ends of said rod, of reinforced shanks tightly fitted in and projecting beyond the ends of said rod, bracket-engaging members horizontally pivoted on the projecting ends of said shanks, and means for locking said bracket-engaging members against pivotal movement in any adjusted position thereof.

12. In a curtain fixture of the character described, the combination with a bowed flat rod, and supporting brackets for the ends of said rod each carrying an upright hinge pin, of reinforced shanks tightly fitted in and projecting beyond the ends of said rod, hinge sleeves in cooperating engagement with said hinge pins and having stems horizontally pivoted on the projecting ends of said shanks, and means for locking said stems to said shanks in any tilted position of said rod.

13. In a curtain fixture of the character described, the combination with an extensible bowed rod having its end portions curved inwardly more abruptly than the intermediate portion of the rod, of reinforced shanks in the end portions of the rod, each having a hinge member, and brackets each having a hinge member permitting the hinge member of the shank to turn thereon according to the lengthwise adjustment of said rod.

14. In a curtain fixture of the character described, the combination with a pair of extensible bowed rods each having its end portions curved inwardly more abruptly than the intermediate portion of the rod, of reinforced shanks in the end portions of the rods each having a, hinge member, double brackets having twin limbs each carrying a hinge member, and means for independently adjusting the limbs of each bracket edgewise.

JAMES H. BOYE. 

